As we frosted cake after cake for our layer-cakes story, A Piece of Cake, we had ample opportunity to ponder the cake spatula. And we got to wondering: What’s the difference between a straight and an offset cake spatula, and is there a right time to use one instead of the other? To answer the question, we talked to a few baking pros. And while they didn’t really offer us hard-and-fast rules, they did provide a few sensible tips:

When it comes to choosing a cake spatula, personal preference plays a big role—a spatula, like a knife, should feel comfortable in your hand and suit the task. An offset spatula is ideal for tasks like spreading batter in a cake pan or frosting the top of a cake, when you need a little distance from the surface to prevent batter or icing from getting on your knuckles. And a small or medium straight spatula works well for frosting the sides of a cake and for smoothing frosting to a level finish.

For both offset and straight cake spatulas, visit Sweetc.com; prices range from $2.99 to $14.19, depending on the size of the tool